We cannot validate someone else’s suffering.
I think we all accept this on a surface level, because we know we can’t heal our loved ones. We know we can’t fix the situation. We understand this because we’ve tried.
On a deeper level though, we often still believe that our presence is adding significance to their health struggles. If you think this isn’t true, let me ask you a question:
Whose suffering has the greatest impact, the chronic illness sufferer who collates an inspiring instagram feed or the aged parent who can no longer speak?
Do you believe that ‘seen’ suffering trumps ‘unseen’ suffering?
To do so is dangerous. Here’s why –
Continue reading “Your role in someone else’s suffering is smaller than you think (and that’s okay)”
